“Positive Ageing” – Momentum Builds in Ireland

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Atlantic grantees were active this week in building momentum in Ireland for adoption of progressive positive ageing strategies so that older people can live full lives.

Ageing Well Network Conference and Major Report

The New Agenda on Ageing conference, held by grantee the Ageing Well Network, took place in Dublin, as part of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012. The conference aim was to highlight and inform a National Positive Ageing Strategy, a key commitment in the Programme for Government, in order to adequately prepare for a new future where older people are recognised, supported and encouraged to be active and valued participants in society.

At the conference AWN launched a major report – ‘The New Agenda on Ageing’. Speaking at the Conference, world expert on demography, Professor David Bloom, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University:

‘I applaud the Ageing Well Network on the release of the New Agenda on Ageing report. It is comprehensive, thoughtful, and clear. Its messages are sophisticated and progressive but not over-stated. The report will be a tremendous resource, because it distills and synthesizes findings from across the many disciplines that underpin the emerging field of ageing. It’s truly a tour de force and will be a terrific resource for both aspiring specialists and established professionals throughout the world.’

Minister Commits to Publishing National Positive Ageing Strategy

Older People’s Minister Kathleen Lynch TD finally went on the record on June 13th in the Parliament to commit to publishing the National Positive Ageing Strategy during 2012, the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

Patricia Conboy, Director of Older and Bolder welcomed the commitment saying “The Minister has responded to older people and their advocates who have campaigned for six long years for the publication of a National Positive Ageing Strategy. This campaign has been sustained through two Programmes for Government and over the tenure of three Ministers for Older People. Older and Bolder was delighted to hear Minister Lynch say on the public record that she is convinced she will publish the strategy by October 2012″.

On the same day the Irish Times published a feature article by Patricia Conboy calling for homecare for the elderly to be made a statutory right.